Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

[Jonathan Ashton]

Taken at Ashton Park West Kirby
Hand held
Olympus : E-M1X
Lens focal length : 420 mm
Focal length in 35 mm film : 841.0mm
Metering mode : Pattern
Shutter speed : 1/1600 sec
Aperture : F5.6
Exposure mode : Manual exposure
ISO : 500
Exposure bias : -3.3 EV

ACR + PSCC

All comments welcome

[David Roach]

Just wonderful light on your beautiful subject. I also love all the reflections (birds and trees). Not so sure about overall composition though. Maybe some off the top. TFS

[Steve Kaluski]

No sure Jon, the crop is awkward and the BKG elements are distracting IMHO. I feel there is more you can extract from the subject and I would loose the blue in whites of the plumage. Not sure if it was inspired by the water rail, but that was lit by lights, but good to explore.

TFS
Steve

[Bill Dix]

I rather like the dark setting, lighting and preening pose. But I would take out the whitish streak on the left, which I find somewhat distracting.

[Jonathan Ashton]

Thanks everyone, I deliberately posted knowing it may be a little contentious, the composition is questionable....but it is real, the lighting could be made to reveal more detail in the duck but I feel I captured the moment and I think it is a little thought provoking. I hope more people chime in - favourable or otherwise!!

[Steve Kaluski]

‘Thought provoking’ I think has a lot of merit, as it does make folk question things and can lead to an interesting thread with POV and opening up the ‘conversation’ which IMHO is something that makes a good Forum and where it’s informative and folk learn, or question both the thread and how they operate.

[John Mack]

I can see what you were going for here. The mood is quite nice. But i also think just too much negative space. The mallard looks nice and sharp.